Webbed swimming glove



Dec. 13, 1955 K. v. ADAMOPOULOS 2,726,410

WEBBED SWIMMING GLOVE Filed Aug.- 17, 1953 INVENTOR.

4 KLEOMENIS v ADAMOPOULOS 3 BY ATTORNEYS United States Patent 2,726,410 WEBBED SWIMMING GLOVE Kleomenis V. Adamopoulos, Chicago, Ill.

Application August 17, 1953, Serial No. 374,791

3 Claims. (Cl. 9-21) The present invention relates to an improved webbed swimming glove characterized by inexpensive construction, a large water-gripping surface, and a secure nonbinding attachment to the hand of the user.

When a webbed swimming glove is placed on the human hand, the surface area over which the hand engages the water is increased, with the consequently greater purchase between the hand and the water. The swimmer can accordingly move forward in the water at a greater speed or, alternatively, continue the same rate of movement through the water at a smaller effort. While these advantages of a webbed swimming glove are well recognized in the art, the glove has not come into extensive use.

In accordance with the present invention a webbed swimming glove isprovided with a webjmember which defines a wrist strap which is secured about the wrist of the user. An additional strap--extending from the portion of the web between the thumb pocket and the index finger pocket, on onehand, 'and the portion of the web adjacent the little finger pocket, on the other handextend spirally about the wrist. This strap prevents the glove from pulling OE and yet does not bind so as to obstruct blood circulation or abrade the skin of the user. The glove also has rigid tubular stay members inserted in a sub-pocket formed in each finger pocket and extending outwardly therefrom to the margin of the web member. These stays permit the web area to exceed the reach of the fingers of the user.

It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide an improved webbed swimming glove.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved webbed swimming glove that can be attached to the hand of the user in a secure fashion and yet without binding or otherwise interfering with the hand.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide an improved webbed swimming glove in which the water engaging area exceeds the area of spread of the outstretched hand.

Further it is one object of the present invention to achieve the above objects in a simple, inexpensive and readily manufactured glove.

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. My invention itself, however, both as to its organization and mode of construction, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the glove of the present invention on the hand of a user;

Figure 2 is a top-plan view of the glove of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a bottom-plan view of the glove of the present invention with the straps outstretched;

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view through axis 4-4, Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is a view in perspective of one of the rigid inserts provided in the glove;

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Figure 6 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary view in perspective with parts broken away showing the mode of inserting the stay members. I

As shown in Figure 1, the glove consists of a web part 10 to which a plurality of finger pockets 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 are secured. The hand of the user is inserted palm down against the web with the fingers inserted in the pockets respectively. The straps 17 and Bare spiraled about the wrist of the user and secured together. These straps are covered by the wider band 19-20 which is wrapped about the wrist.

The web 10 may be of any suitable fabric material which will engage the water and possesses the necessary flexibility. Canvas has been found suitable for this purpose. As shown, the face part 10A of the web 10 is of shape to receive the palm of the hand H and thefinger pockets 12-16 are positioned to receive the outstretched fingers, respectively. The straps 19 and 20 are integral with the web 10 and are preferably cut from the same piece of material. Also, the web is cut in arcuate outline at 10b between the outer ends of the finger pockets 12-16 as shown to define a well supported water gripping web.

One end of the strap 17 is aflixed to the web 10 in the region between the finger pocket 12 (which receives the thumb) and the finger pocket 13 (which receives the first finger). This strap is of length to extend approximately a full turn about the wrist of the user. The complementary strap 18 is afiixed to the web 10 at a point adjacent the little finger pocket 16 as shown in Figure 2. The strap 17 has a plurality of spaced holes 17a and, the strap 18 has a buckle 18a, thus enabling the user to attachthe ends of the straps about the wrist and to draw them to a comfortably tight condition. It will be observed that the straps 17 and 18 in conjunction with the web 10 extend two full revolutions about the wrist of the user and that they extend spirally to a point where the wrist is of comparatively small size. At this point the straps 19 and 20 cover the straps 17 and 18. The straps 19 and 20 are secured together by the button 20a, which is received in the buttonhole 19a.

The construction of the finger pockets will be evident from Figures 4-6 which show in detail the little finger pocket 16. Each is defined by a tube of fabric, as indicated at 16a, Figure 4. The tube has a slight taper at its inward portions and terminates in a sharper conical portion 16b at its outer end. This fabric is secured in place by sewing as shown by the stitches 16c, Figures 3 and 6. A rigid stay 22, Figures 46, is received in each finger pocket. This insert has a base portion 22a which extends into the inwardly extending stay-receiving pocket formed by the sewing 16c and the end face 16d of the lower portion of the fabric 16a as shown in Figures 4 and 6. End face 16d is formed by a cut extending crosswise of the fabric tube forming the finger pocket. The cut does not extend through web 10 and is of length to receive root part 22a of the stay 22. The rigid stay also overlays the portion 16:; of the fabric as shown in Figure 4, this portion being sewed to the web 10 as shown in Figure 3. The fabric part 16a is broken away and shown in cross section in Figure 6. The stay 22 also has a conical portion 22b which fits snugly in the conical portion 16b of the finger pocket.

The rigid stay 22 may be constructed of sheet metal or, if desired, may be of plastic or other suitable rigid material. Since the top edge of the finger pocket is secured together by suitable adhesive, or if desired, by stitching, the insert is secured in place by the finger pocket itself and assures that the web 10 extends directly outward beyond the reach of each of the fingers of the user. This is shown by the dotted lines F, Figure 1, which shows the end of each finger. Thus the extent of the web 10 is greater in area than the reach of the outstretched fingers and the glove provides a greater purchase in the water than can be acquired by a web merely extending between the fingers.

The degree the stays 22 extend beyond the fingers can be chosen in accordance with the desired purchase on the water. If great purchase (large web area) is desired, the stays can be made long. If small purchase (small web area) is desired, the stays can be made short.

It will be observed that the user can reduce the area of engagement with the water by merely bringing his fingers together.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of the present invention, it will be understood that various modifications and alternative constructions may be made without departing from the true spirit and scope thereof. I therefore, intend by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and alternative constructions as fall within their true spirit and scope.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A swimming glove adapted to fit on the human hand, wrist and fingers, comprising in combination: a web member of conformation to receive the hand, outstretched fingers, and wrist, the web member extending beyond the fingertips and defining strap portions extending from the wrist receiving part; securing means on said strap portions to anchor the same about the wrist; elongated finger pockets afiixed to one side of the web to receive the fingers, respectively, each finger pocket having a cut extending cross-wise of its length to define an inwardly extending stay-receiving pocket between the finger pocket and said web member, said finger pockets having rigid tubular members positioned therein at their end portions and extending beyond the reach of the fingersto the margins of the web member, said rigid tubular members having inwardly extending root portions positioned in said inwardly extending stay-receiving pockets, thereby providing means for retaining said tubular members in position in said finger pockets; and an elongated 4 releasable strap aflixed to the web between the thumb pocket, at one end, and adjacent the little finger pocket, at the other end, and of length to encircle the wrist spirally more than once and thereby secure the glove in place.

2. A swimming glove adapted 0t fit on the human hand, wrist, and fingers, comprising in combination: a web member of conformation to receive the hand, outretched fingers, and wrist, the, web member defining strap portions extending from the wrist receiving part; securing means on said strap portions to anchor the same about the wrist; finger pockets afiixed to one side of the web to receive the fingers, respectively; and an elongated releasable strap affixed to the web between the thumb pocket and the index finger pocket, at one end, and adjacent the little finger pocket, at the other end, and of length to encircle the wrist spirally more than once and thereby secure the glove in place.

3. A swimming glove comprising in combination; a web member of conformation to, receive the outstretched fingers of the user; tubes with closed ends, afiixed to, the web member to define finger pockets, each tube haying a cut extending cross-wise of its length to define an inwardly extending pocket in conjunction with the web; and stay members having root portions received in said inwardly extending pockets respectively and having extending portions positioned within said tubes, and seated against the closed ends of the tubes to support the same and the web beyond the reach of the fingers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 666,813 Larson Jan. 29, 1901 1,014,939 Roman Jan. 16', 1912 1,625,730 Lake Apr. 19, 1927 2,010,750 Dawzda Aug. 6, 1935 2,139,601 Piccardi Dec. 6', 1 938 2,555,969 Holcornbe June 5; 1951 

